World Asthma Day puts spotlight on new Perth trial to lessen reliance on steroid tablets
On World Asthma Day, researchers from the Institute for Respiratory Health are calling on people with asthma to participate in a clinical trial in Perth to test a new, personalised treatment approach for better asthma control with less corticosteroid tablets.
Corticosteroid tablets, such as prednisone and prednisolone, are a powerful and lifesaving treatment for people with asthma. But these tablets also have negative side effects, especially when taken too often and in large doses.
The research team are testing whether a new, more personalised way of managing asthma can keep people’s symptoms under better control so that they don’t need to use corticosteroid tablets like prednisone so often.
Professor John Blakey, who is leading the clinical trial in Perth said, “We know that personalising asthma treatment is a key part of the way forward. Considering the kind of asthma someone has and their other contributing issues can be more effective than a one size fits all approach.”
A personalised medicine approach known as the ‘Treatable Traits’ model of care aims to deliver the most appropriate treatment to individuals, rapidly progressing to specialist medicines and limiting exposure to ineffective treatments. It also identifies common issues that people with asthma have but are overlooked.
“Many people with asthma have problems like inducible laryngeal obstruction, or breathing pattern dysfunction that they haven’t heard of, never mind had treated.” explained Professor Blakey. “This approach has been shown to help people with severe asthma but has not been applied more broadly.”
Haley Welch, the trial coordinator said, “This is the first large trial of the “treatable traits” approach. We’re excited to learn how best to deliver this model of care so it can benefit more people with asthma.
“One of the first patients to participate in the trial has already noticed positive changes in managing their asthma. Their asthma is often triggered by colds, which can escalate into debilitating flare-ups.
“During the trial period, they did catch a cold but their experience was different this time. Instead of getting seriously ill, they recovered and got better.”
The patient said, “The team developed an asthma management plan tailored to my needs, something I had never tried before. My medications have been personalised, and so far, they seem to be working well for me.
“I signed up for the trial because I wanted to explore alternatives to corticosteroid tablets, which have unwanted side effects and to reduce my visits to the doctor.”
If you are aged over 18, have been diagnosed with asthma by your doctor and have taken prednisolone in the past two years you could participate in this or related research. Please get in touch with the Institute’s clinical trials’ team on 6151 0888 or email clinicaltrials@resphealth.uwa.edu.au.
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